Apartment complex to be torn down after fatal crash sets off huge blaze

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Officials say a Fall River apartment complex will be torn down after a massive fire tore through it when a woman crashed her car into the building.

Firefighters worked to contain the flames for a second time as they shot through the roof around 9 p.m. Tuesday evening.

Hours earlier, on Tuesday morning, the vehicle crashed into the Four Winds Apartments on North Main Street at approximately 9:40 a.m.

"It sounded like a bomb went off," said resident Jack Steele, who lost his home in the fire.

The Bristol County District Attorney's Office on Tuesday evening identified the victim as Judith Mauretti, 72, of Fall River.

Mauretti was driving the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix that crashed into Building 15 at Four Winds.

Firefighters had been guiding some of the displaced residents back into the charred building when flames erupted again on Tuesday night.

While residents made it out safely, they lost their homes as a result of the fire. Many rushed out with only the clothes on their backs.

"I’m just stunned right now. I can't believe it actually happened," said Daniel Tombari, a resident of the apartment complex.

"It's horrible, horrible, said Janet Seabor, who lost her home.

She is among residents who are grateful they escaped unharmed.

"I was on my way to the laundry room to do laundry, but I said to my son, 'I think I'll just finish my cup of coffee first' and it's a good thing I did because I wouldn't be standing here now," Seabor said.

Steven Pontes, who lives in a neighboring building, called 911 before sprinting over to alert fellow neighbors in Building 15 moments after the car crashed into the building, rupturing gas lines and igniting a massive 6-alarm fire.

“It was bad. It was fast," Pontes said.

Deborah Steele was forced to abandon her two cats and has since received confirmation from firefighters that one didn’t make it.

"It's heartbreaking we got our dog, but we didn’t think it was this bad. We thought we’d be back in no time," she said.

The DA's Office confirmed the crash was fatal, as rescue personnel found Mauretti deceased inside the vehicle.

Her lone passenger, a 75-year-old Fall River woman, was pulled from the burning car and rushed to Rhode Island Hospital, but was later pronounced dead.

The Fall River fire chief said the fire went to six alarms after the car ruptured a gas line during the crash.

Flames spread up the three-story building, and firefighters sounded an evacuation horn and vented the roof. Fall River Fire Chief John Lynch said Wednesday morning that the building is a total loss and will be ripped down.

The building had working smoke detectors but did not have sprinklers, according to the chief, because it is such an old building.

Seven Fall River firefighters were transported to local hospitals after suffering from heat exhaustion. They are all expected to be OK, according to the chief.

>>RELATED: 11 people displaced after early-morning fire in Dorchester

The American Red Cross is helping between about 50 displaced residents. The DA's Office said it appears no apartment occupants or other civilians were injured but some pets died.

Other departments assisted Fall River Fire at the scene.

The crash and fire are both under investigation, and foul play doesn't appear to be a factor.

Cox Media Group